Question for those taking Toprol

[halleyg]

My cardio just put me on Toprol 25 mg 1/day. I used to take it before my first OHS, I think b/c of palpitations and/or my cardio at the time was trying to slow down my valve damage? :confused2: Anyhow, I believe it was after my second surgery (replacement) he took me off of it b/c I complained of tiredness, also my heart rate was pretty low, so remember that being an issue. That was over three years ago, was diagnosed with a-fib last year, started having issues recently, wore a heart monitor for two weeks which recorded 130-150 resting hr at times.... so now the Toprol again. I am worried about it making me tired, I have so much going on right now and I get tired easily enough without it! It doesn't seem that there are other options as far as beta blockers go that don't cause drowsiness. Any feedback is appreciated - thanks.

 

[Guest]

Hi Halley,

Beta blockers will definitely impact your heart rate during exercise. I have PVCs and PACs (since my surgery) where prior to surgery I had only PVCs. They are not enough to require beta blockers yet.

Is taking 12.5 mg an option to see how you react? Maybe ease into the bb slowly? What about the typical afib drugs? Multag, Betapace, Flecainide? Just curious why they would not use an afib drug for your afib symptoms? Maybe taking the precautionary route first?

 

[Cynaburst]

I have taken Toprol for several years, and find that if I take it in a divided dose - .i.e. half of my total amount in the a.m. and half in the p.m. it works fine for me and doesn't make me tired. Right now I take 50 mg. in the a.m. and 50 mg. in the p.m. I have taken as much as 100 mg. each time and not been too tired.

I also suggest building up slowly. Start at 12.5 mg. (1/2 of a 50 mg. pill) and then build up gradually. Spend a few days at each step.

 

[Bina]

Halley, is the Toprol extended release ?
My Metoprolol is prescribed for twice daily, but I split the doses into 3 and sometimes 4 times daily because it hits me too hard and wears off too quickly. In the USA there is a newer BB, Bystolic, which has a longer half life with good results.

 

[guyinva]

I was taking 50 mg Toprol for about 10 years up until this past April when I started having A-Fib. It did make me a little tired. In April, my cardio switched me to Metoprolol 50 mg twice a day and that doesn't seem to have the same effects as the Toprol did. There are several beta-blockers out there and you may want to suggest that your cardio try one of the others to see which one works best for you.

 

[Cooker]

I take 25mg a day with no issues ... at 50mg it cause some fatigue ... good luck:thumbup:

 

[ALCapshaw2]

25 mg is a pretty small dose that is known to 'be enough' to help some patients with minimal side-effects.

You may want to ask your Cardio about taking SOTALOL (generic form of BetaPace) which supposedly "targets A-Fib" according to my cardio. I don't understand why more Doctor's don't prescribe this medication which works WELL for many of our members and has minor side effects once the body adjusts to it. There can be some mild dizzyness in the first few weeks while the body is adjusting. The manufacturer recommends being Hospitalized for a few days when this drug is first started, 'just in case' a dangerous arrhythmia is triggered during the initial adjustment phase.

'AL'

 

[deek]

Hey, girl! I'm on 100 mg x 2 daily of Toprol and I'm a zombie...but it could be the 200mg x 3 daily of Labetolol too. So sorry to hear you are having issues. Still waiting here...went on Viagra (of all things) recently for PH and it seems to be helping...go for another echo on the 1st and see Dr. Gillinov the following week...so still in limbo. Hope you are doing well otherwise. Hugs, Dee

 

[halleyg]

Hey, girl! I'm on 100 mg x 2 daily of Toprol and I'm a zombie...but it could be the 200mg x 3 daily of Labetolol too. So sorry to hear you are having issues. Still waiting here...went on Viagra (of all things) recently for PH and it seems to be helping...go for another echo on the 1st and see Dr. Gillinov the following week...so still in limbo. Hope you are doing well otherwise. Hugs, Dee

Hey!! I was wondering how you're doing. Viagra, huh? Well, whatever works, right? I'm glad it is helping... you have had the longest limbo ever, you should go down in the record books for this! Keep me posted... Hugs back to you :smile2:

 

[halleyg]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I appreciate hearing all of it. I will ask my dr. about taking half. So far I am not tired (more than usual) but haven't even been on it a week. It is not time released, Bina, but will ask about that option. LucyLou, I did not know that Toprol isn't typically an a-fib drug. Even after hanging around here as much as I have, I don't know much about PVCs or PACs or the difference between them all. Anyhow, thanks to all for the answers and for giving me questions to ask. Al, will ask about the sotalol as well.

 

[Nupur]

hi halley nothing to add, just coincidence that i was asking about beta blockers, hope your issues are resolved, surprised that deek is having so many problems still!!

 

[Bryan B]

Hey, girl! I'm on 100 mg x 2 daily of Toprol and I'm a zombie...but it could be the 200mg x 3 daily of Labetolol too. So sorry to hear you are having issues. Still waiting here...went on Viagra (of all things) recently for PH and it seems to be helping...go for another echo on the 1st and see Dr. Gillinov the following week...so still in limbo. Hope you are doing well otherwise. Hugs, Dee

deek,

So how are those side effects from the Viagra working out for you?

(sorry I couldn't resist lol)